The ranking below is based on the percentage of schools within a town or city which have placed in the top 10% of all schools statewide.
A school's overall rank is based on its combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. Schools are ranked and compared within their own state only.
Statewide Range: 21%
75%
Avg. Statewide: 42%
Top-Ranked Cities With Best Public Schools in North Carolina (2026)
City
% of Schools in
Top 10% Statewide
Top 10% Statewide
Top-Ranked Schools
(Math Proficiency % | Reading Proficiency %)
(Math Proficiency % | Reading Proficiency %)
Rank: #11.
75%
(9 out of 12)
(9 out of 12)
Rank: #22.
53%
(8 out of 15)
(8 out of 15)
- Franklin Academy
Rank: #306 of 2,617 (Top 5%)
(Math: 84% | Reading: 79%) - Endeavor Charter School
Rank: #315 of 2,617 (Top 5%)
(Math: 84% | Reading: 78%) - North Wake College And Career Academy
Rank: #352 of 2,617 (Top 10%)
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 90-94%) - View Full List of Top-Ranked Wake Forest, NC Schools
Rank: #33.
50%
(3 out of 6)
(3 out of 6)
- Cedar Fork Elementary School
Rank: #256 of 2,617 (Top 5%)
(Math: 85% | Reading: 81%) - Parkside Elementary School
Rank: #421 of 2,617 (Top 10%)
(Math: 80% | Reading: 77%) - Morrisville Elementary School
Rank: #433 of 2,617 (Top 10%)
(Math: 79% | Reading: 77%) - View Full List of Top-Ranked Morrisville, NC Schools
Rank: #44.
47%
(15 out of 32)
(15 out of 32)
Rank: #55.
41%
(9 out of 22)
(9 out of 22)
Rank: #66.
40%
(4 out of 10)
(4 out of 10)
- Holly Springs Elementary School
Rank: #305 of 2,617 (Top 5%)
(Math: 83% | Reading: 80%) - Holly Springs High School
Rank: #345 of 2,617 (Top 10%)
(Math: 77% | Reading: 85%) - Holly Ridge Elementary School
Rank: #363 of 2,617 (Top 10%)
(Math: 84% | Reading: 75%) - View Full List of Top-Ranked Holly Springs, NC Schools
Rank: #77.
38%
(6 out of 16)
(6 out of 16)
Rank: #88.
31%
(4 out of 13)
(4 out of 13)
Rank: #99.
26%
(6 out of 23)
(6 out of 23)
Rank: #1010.
21%
(3 out of 14)
(3 out of 14)
- Hendersonville High School
Rank: #313 of 2,617 (Top 5%)
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 75-79%) - Hendersonville Elementary School
Rank: #345 of 2,617 (Top 10%)
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%) - West Henderson High School
Rank: #531 of 2,617 (Top 10%)
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 68%) - View Full List of Top-Ranked Hendersonville, NC Schools
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